AI Bibliography

The potential uses of machine learning and artificial intelligence in the cyber security domain have had a recent surge of interest. Much of the research and discussions in this area primarily focuses on reactive uses of the technology such as enhancing capabilities in incident response, aiding in the analysis of malware or helping to automate defensive positions across networks. In this paper, the authors present an overview of machine learning as an enabler to artificial intelligence and how such technology can be used within the military and cyber warfare domain. This represents a shift in focus from commercial, civilian machine learning applications that include; self-driving vehicles, speech/image/face recognition, fraud prevention, the optimisation of web searches, and so forth. While the underlying technological process remain, what is altered is the focus of application; i.e., applying machine learning to create Intelligent Virtual Assistants for the battlefield, automated scanning of satellite imagery to detect specific vehicle types, automating the selection of attack vectors and methods when conducting offensive cyber warfare, etc. machine learning solutions offer the potential to assist a Commander make decisions in real-time that are informed by the accumulated knowledge of hundreds of previous engagements and exercises that are assessed at computational speeds. With these potential use cases in mind, the authors highlight some of the legal and ethical issues that the application of weapons enhanced with artificial intelligence, machine learning and automated processes. As the authors highlight, however, there are conflict views over the ethics of weaponising these technologies. Critics question the compliance with International Humanitarian Law of automated weapon systems the exclude human judgment, charging them with threatening our fundamental right to life and the principle of human dignity. Conversely, others view this progress in weapon development as inevitable, whereby attempts to ban autonomous weapon systems would be both premature and insupportable.